BY: ROI ANTHONI B. LOMOTAN
DUMAGUETE CITY, July 25 (PIA) – Environmental groups and Civil Society Organizations (CSO) in Negros Oriental revived the call to harness solar energy as another renewable energy source for the province.
This was raised in a Kapihan sa PIA on renewable energy recently and was attended by representatives from Silliman University, Negros Oriental State University, FENOR, 350.Org, Social Action Center of the Diocese of Dumaguete, local government units of Dauin, Sta. Catalina, Bayawan City, Siaton and San Jose and the media.
Leo Mamicpic from the Friends of the Environment in Negros Oriental (FENOR) believes the province can use solar energy as another source which is a “greener” alternative than the geothermal energy which the province has.
Mamicpic thinks this is possible since San Carlos City in Negros Occidental has inaugurated a 25MW solar energy power plant in May this year. He added that the government can replicate this solar energy farm in the municipalities of Zamboanguita, Dauin, Basay which are the sun belt areas in Negros Oriental.
Mamicpic, is the co-founder of FENOR, an environmental advocacy group on climate change, bio-diversity conservation, reforestation and other environment-related issues which concerns are being carried out through education and policy campaign.
FENOR is one of the environment groups that is against the alleged massive cutting century-old trees in Mount Talinis area in Valencia town in line with Energy Development Corporation (EDC)’s geothermal and expansion projects.
EDC is a Lopez-run energy firm operating a geothermal power plant in Valencia.
Environment groups in the forum pushed for the use of solar energy since it counters deforestation and is of the cheapest mode of renewable energy.
Eric Hanquinet of Environmental Advocacy on Solutions and Technologies (E.A.S.T.) mentioned there is no problem with renewable energy with regard to legislation.
“I think what we need basically is education on what is happening here. What are our options? How much (is) the cost of solar energy?” Hanquet said.
He added that solar energy is easy to implement and everyone can have access to it provided they have the equipment needed to harness solar power and it takes about four years to get a return of investment to your equipment.
Meanwhile, Zephanie Danieles of 350.Org underscored the need for the government to push for not just renewable energy but also clean, accessible and community-based energy source.
She added that government should also consult the public on what source of energy they think is relevant to them.
“For Negros Oriental, we are capable of solar energy,” Danieles stated.
Environmental groups and CSOs hope that through the Kapihan, government agencies in the province will consider the possibility of using solar energy to power Negros Oriental. (mbcn/ral/PIA7-NegOr)